Who do you think are the best music video directors? I was always really impressed by Michel Gondry’s work, he directed a new one by the White Stripes. Also, he did a feature film, Human Nature. Anyone seen that one?
Also, Chris Cunningham puts out some impressive videos. I always liked the Smashing Pumpkins videos done by Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris. Oh, Dom & Nic.
Better than those usually horrible TRL videos, at least.
There was a site that reviewed music videos, eMpTyV. Does anyone know where that went?
I think one of the best videos ever was the Happy Days one by Spike Jonze (sp?) for Weazer. I dont really know why, it just always kept me glued to the TV.
I have to admit (which is really hard because I hate MTV), that I kinda like the new Moby video We are all made of Stars, and…of course Fatboy Slim - Weapon of Choice, featuring Christopher Walken. Other goodies, in my opinion.
Come to Daddy - Aphex Twin
Everlong - Foo Fighters
Heart Shaped Box - Nirvana
ARGHH. so many others, so little memory.
oh yeah, and I Ran - Flock of Seagulls (eeeheeheee)
I like Tarsem Singh. Recently, he began directing movies (The Cell 2000 and Constantine 2002), but he is best known for commericials — like the Nike one where people who wear Nikes avoid the raindrops while everyone else is drenched — and music videos.
He is known primarily for his stunning visuals and creative interpretation. Nike, for example, had been sold a fast-paced, fast-music commercial. But when Singh got hold of the project, he made it with photosonics, a super slo-mo effect.
He also did my all time favorite music video, which I love for its beautiful color, visuals, and interpretation of the song, Losing My Religion by REM.
Most of the good ones have been mentioned, but I’ll noiminate Joseph Kahn. He did U2’s Elevation and the latest Eminem (Without Me) video. Not artistic genius, but I have to give it up for the journeymen.
Michel Gondry. Besides the recent White Stripes Fell in Love With a Girl video done entirely with Legos, his videos are the standouts on the Bjork DVD, and he also did Foo Fighters Everlong. If you get a chance, check out his video for Chemical Brothers Star Guitar. It’s nothing special at first, until you realize what’s happening…
Mark Romanek’s video for NIN’s “Closer,” despite the blatant rip-off of Joel-Peter Witkin, is still kind of cool. He’s got a film coming out called One Hour Photo with Robin Williams (http://us.imdb.com/Title?0265459. I also liked Joseph Kahn’s video for Moby and Gwen Stefani doing “South Side.” I want the champagne fan!
A lot of the usual suspects (e.g., Spike Jonze, Michel Gondry, etc.) have already been named so I’ll add few others that come to mind: Tim Hope for “Trouble” by Coldplay with it’s 3-D live-action cut-outs: and Hammer & Tongs for “Coffee and TV” by Blur (among others).
Hey since you guys seem to know your videos and directors
There was a great video where it had all the components of a video encased in see thru shells (with their appropriate titles on the outside- cameras, director, band, hot chick) standing stock still waiting to put together a video while a great song played.
I thought it was Spike Jonez but I dunno. Anyone got any ideas?
Also, there was a great video called “Drive Thru Window” (I think-correct me if I am wrong) where it was a man on fire running full tilt up a Los Angeles street in slow motion. The simple slow mo and watching the flames flying off this guy is mezmerising
I’m not sure on your first one, but the second one (with the man on fire) I think was called “California” by the band Wax. I believe it was directed by Spike Jonze.
Michel Gondry really is great. I remembered another one he did, “Sugar Water” by Cibo Matto. If you haven’t seen it, it’s like the two-halves deal, with the two different women doing synchronized things at times during the song, but you realize that one half is going forward and one side is backward. Then halfway through, they switch and the other side goes backward. I’m not really sure how they did it, but you’ve just got to see it to see what I’m saying. Gondry is pretty much consistently brilliant, I can’t think of a video of his that I didn’t like.
Dom & Nic are also pretty good, their video for “Setting Sun” by the Chemical Brothers was really good and I also liked “Ava Adore” by the Smashing Pumpkins.
Jonathan Glazer is also quite talented. He directed a feature fairly recently, Sexy Beast. Before that he had done videos for Jamiroquai (“Virtual Insanity”, where the floor kept moving around with the guy dancing – watch it more than once, it’s more amazing if you really pay attention to what’s going on), Radiohead (“Karma Police”, not stunning on first viewing, but better later), and U.N.K.L.E. (“Rabbit In Your Headlights”, amazing…).
Andrea Giacobbe had a few good ones, too. “Dirt” by Death In Vegas comes to mind, and “Push It” by Garbage.
What do you all think of the Prodigy’s video "Smack My Bh Up"* directed by Jonas Akerlund?